Several prominent Fox News personalities have expressed regret for defending ousted chairman Roger Ailes against a slew of sexual harassment allegations, but Bill O’Reilly is standing by his former boss.
O’Reilly was asked during a Tuesday appearance on NBC’s “Today” if he still supported Ailes after Fox settled a lawsuit with fired anchor Gretchen Carlson, who first broke the sexual harassment scandal, for $20 million. Fox News also offered Carlson a public apology.
“I don’t know anything about the case,” the “O’Reilly Factor” host said.
“He was a great boss. Best boss I ever had,” he continued. “That’s all I’ve said. And I’m not going to say anything else because I work for this company. And I don’t really have any insight into anything. So for once in my life, I’m going to keep my big mouth shut.”
When Carlson’s lawsuit was first filed in July, O’Reilly voiced a full-throated defense of Ailes, saying he was just a “target” like any other “famous, powerful or wealthy person.”
“I stand behind Roger 100 percent,” he said at the time.
O’Reilly stressed to the “Today” hosts that he had only commented on Ailes’ abilities as a boss, saying “Roger Ailes was very good to me and I feel bad for his family. That’s it.”
Asked if the climate at Fox News had changed since Ailes’ ouster, O’Reilly said he didn’t usually go to the network’s headquarters to work.
“I do a lot of my work in a separate place,” he said. “It’s a sad situation for everyone involved and that’s all I’m gonna say.”
Last week, longtime Fox host Geraldo Rivera wrote a lengthy Facebook post saying he was “filled with regret” for initially doubting the veracity of Carlson’s allegations. Rivera said that women who say they’ve experienced sexual harassment should be believed, and that Ailes was a “deceitful, selfish misogynist, if the charges against him are true.”
Recently retired Fox host Greta van Susteren wrote that she too regretted questioning Carlson’s charges. She also accused top executives at Fox of failing to rein in Ailes’ behavior.
O’Reilly has made no mention of Carlson or the other women who have accused Ailes of harassment.
“Best boss I’ve ever had. That’s all I’ve said. I’m not going to say anything else.” @oreillyfactor on Roger Ailes https://t.co/B8iuNo0P0F
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) September 13, 2016
